CA: Lockyer changes plans, will run for state treasurer

Monterey Herald ^ | 4/28/05 | Beth Fouhy - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO - Attorney General Bill Lockyer dropped plans to run for governor Thursday and said he would instead run for state treasurer, citing a wish to avoid the character attacks, money chase and partisan politics required to take on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Successful campaigns for governor require a commitment of more than a year to an obsessive and all-consuming chase for money, endorsements and exposure," Lockyer, a Democrat, said in a written statement. "As we have seen with the current governor, that chase has become obscene and replete with a political divisiveness that does nothing to help Californians with the serious issues they face on a daily basis."

Lockyer, who turns 64 next week, also cited his desire to spend more time with his family, including his 22-month old son, Diego, and his wish to commit fully to the job of attorney general before term limits force him to step down next year.

The current state treasurer, Phil Angelides, is the only Democrat to formally announce plans to run for governor next year. Controller Steve Westly formed an exploratory committee and is widely expected to run.

Lockyer, who told reporters as recently as last month that he planned to run for the Democratic nomination to take on Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has been decidedly low key about his intentions in recent weeks, prompting questions about whether he was reconsidering.

At the state Democratic Party convention in Los Angeles earlier this month, he all but ceded the limelight to Angelides and Westly.

A longtime officeholder and fixture in state Democratic politics, Lockyer has amassed about $11 million for his next campaign.

Lockyer's surprise decision transforms the field of Democrats vying to succeed Angelides in 2006. They include Sen. Joe Dunn, D-Garden Grove; John Chiang, a member of the state Board of Equalization; and Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer, D-Glendale.

[NormsRevenge]

Lockyer, who turns 64 next week, also cited his desire to spend more time with his family, including his 22-month old son, Diego, and his wish to commit fully to the job of attorney general before term limits force him to step down next year.

More time to spend with his La Raza activist attorney/wife. How sweet.

[caseinpoint]

Yep, more time to spend with his family, and it is really hard to hear what your advisors are saying with all those skeletons rattling in the closet.

[Carry_Okie]

I think I'll consult the Oracle on Mr. Lockyer's prospects.

[Antonello]

"Successful campaigns for governor require a commitment of more than a year to an obsessive and all-consuming chase for money, endorsements and exposure," Lockyer, a Democrat, said in a written statement. "As we have seen with the current governor, that chase has become obscene and replete with a political divisiveness that does nothing to help Californians with the serious issues they face on a daily basis."

"And since that strategy didn't work for us against him last time..."

[CounterCounterCulture]

citing a wish to avoid the character attacks

Oh puh-leeze. That's the only thing Democrats have in their campaign strategies is character attacks.

Lockyer has amassed about $11 million for his next campaign.

That's already quite a hefty chest to run for a lesser office.

So it's already looking like Bill Lockyer vs Bill Simon in 2006.